Explore Everyday Health

Eczema and Diet: What To Know

Elimination diets are only effective for people with specific allergies.

Eggs, cow's milk, and peanuts are three sources of food allergies that are most commonly associated with eczema, especially in children.

Shutterstock (3)

Eczema is an umbrella term that encompasses a number of inflammatory skin conditions that produce very dry, itchy skin and rashes on various parts of the body.

People with eczema often experience periods of heightened symptoms (flares) followed by remissions, when symptoms improve or clear up. (1)

Can a Special Diet or Eating Style Help Get Rid of Eczema?

While there is no cure for eczema, eczema flares are sometimes triggered by an allergic reaction to specific foods, suggesting some people with eczema can benefit from following diets tailored to their allergies. (2)

Other dietary interventions, such as regularly drinking water to keep the body and skin hydrated (3), may also reduce eczema flares and symptoms.

Food Allergies, Diet, and Different Eczema Types

In 2012, 5.6 percent of American children (4.1 million children) reported having food allergies in the past 12 months, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. (4)

But food allergies are more common among people with eczema — about 30 percent of children under 5 with eczema also have at least one food allergy. (2)

These allergies can cause a range of reactions, including eczema flares, gastrointestinal issues, and shortness of breath. If your child experiences such reactions after eating food, he or she should be tested for food allergies.

The most common food allergies among children are from eggs, milk, peanuts, wheat, and soy. (2) Tree nuts, fish, and shellfish also commonly cause allergic reactions. (6)

Can Elimination Diets Help Treat Eczema?

Research suggests that people with specific food allergies may find some eczema relief if they avoid consuming those foods. But there isn't much evidence that shows that so-called elimination diets — those in which people completely stop eating certain food groups — are effective for eczema relief, in general.

In 2008, researchers from the Cochrane Collaboration conducted a literature review to see if elimination diets had any effect on eczema symptoms. In eight of the nine studies reviewed, people with eczema who followed elimination diets showed little to no improvement in symptoms — but these people weren't tested for food allergies beforehand.

In the last study, babies known to have an allergic reaction to eggs experienced fewer eczema rashes after going on an egg-free diet. (7)

Most children eventually lose their allergies to milk, eggs, soy, and wheat, allowing them to eat these foods without experiencing eczema flares. (2)

Special Diets for Contact Eczema

Contact eczema is a specific type of eczema in which localized skin reactions arise from direct contact with something in the environment, including allergens such as pollen, nickel, and latex. (8)

Some allergens may also be present in food — in particular balsam of Peru and nickel — and research suggests that avoiding foods that contain these allergens can relieve contact eczema symptoms. (9)

Balsam of Peru comes from the tree Myroxylon balsamum pereirae and contains a mixture of potential allergens, such as cinnamates and vanillin, chemicals commonly found in flavorings, spices, and certain foods.

If you have a contact eczema related to balsam of Peru, you may find some eczema relief by avoiding:

Citrus fruits

Tomatoes

Certain spices, including cinnamon, vanilla, and cloves, which are related to balsam of Peru

Chocolate

Colas

Nickel is the most common cause of metal allergies and causes more cases of contact eczema than all other metals.

It's also found in a wide range of foods, including grains, shellfish, processed meats, canned food, black tea, nuts, and seeds. Vegetables with especially high nickel content include beans, lentils, peas, and soybeans.

Research suggest that a low-nickel diet may improve dermatological symptoms in people with nickel-related contact eczema.

The diet may also improve symptoms in people with hand eczema and dyshidrotic eczema, also known and foot-and-hand eczema. (9,10)

Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Eczema

As eczema is an inflammatory skin condition, following an anti-inflammatory diet may help relieve symptoms.

For this diet, it's important to pay close attention to dietary fats, which can influence the overall amount of inflammation in the body.

In particular, trans fats, which include hydrogenated oils, some margarine brands, French fries, and other fried foods, and saturated fats, which are found in red meats, full-fat dairy foods, butter, and poultry skin, promote inflammation and, therefore, may potentially worsen eczema symptoms.

Large quantities of foods rich in omega-6 fatty acids, including vegetable oils, may also promote inflammation.

Comparatively, omega-3 fatty acids — found in fatty fish, like salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, and tuna — have anti-inflammatory effects. These fatty acids are also found in smaller quantities in flaxseed, walnuts, and green leafy vegetables.

Monounsaturated fats, including olive and canola oil, may also be anti-inflammatory.

Aside from these dietary fats, other foods and drinks that may exert anti-inflammatory effects include:

Colorful fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

Alcohol (a maximum of two drinks a day)

Coffee and tea, especially green tea

Turmeric

Ginger

For an anti-inflammatory diet, make sure to avoid refined carbohydrates and sugar. (11)

Supplements for Relief of Eczema Symptoms

A wide range of supplements have been reported as potentially effective for reducing eczema symptoms (12), including:

While individual studies may suggest some of these supplements work for eczema, literature reviews have no strong evidence to recommend people with eczema use these products.

Be sure to discuss with your doctor any supplements, vitamins, or home remedies before you try them.

Additionally, some of these supplements may have dangerous side effects or drug interactions, including vitamin D (in high doses), evening primrose oil, borage oil, bromelain, and probiotics. (13,14,15)

Sign up for our Skin & Beauty Newsletter!

Thanks for signing up for our newsletter! You should see it in your inbox very soon.